Outboard motor construction



Jan. '10, 1939. H. PALMER 2,143,573

OUTBOARD MOTOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 20 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Jan. 10, 1939 PATENT OFFICE OUTBOARD MOTOR CONSTRUCTION Herman Palmer, Hartford, Win, assignor, by

memo assignments, to Blanche M. Kissel, Hartford, Wis., doing business as Kissel Industries Application January 20, 1936, Serial No. 59,804

7 Claims.

The invention relates generally to marine propulsion devices and more particularly to an outboard motor.

The general object of the invention is to provide an outboard motor, the underwater portion of which is of a generally streamline shape and has incorporated therein a pump for supplying cooling water to the motor, the pump being removable as a unit from said underwater portion by a simple lateral movement.

More specifically, it is an object to provide an outboard motor having an underwater portion enclosing a vertical drive shaft with a piston pump located on a horizontal axis and actuated by said shaft, the pump and underwater portion together presenting an external streamline shape 'and being readily separable by a simple lateral movement.

It is also an object to provide an-outboard motor having a vertical drive shaft casing from which is suspended an underwater unit having a portion secured in telescopic relation to the easi1 8, and an anti-cavitation plate carried on the top of said unit and secured by means of a collar surrounding said casing.

Another object is to provide an outboard motor having a vertical drive shaft casing from which an underwater unit is suspended, with an exhaust pipe paralleling said casing and a pipe for supplying cooling water to the motor extending upwardly from the underwater unit and into said exhaust pipe.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, on a reduced scale, of an outboard motor embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the lower end of the motor shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of F18. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

An outboard motor embodying the features of the invention comprises generally a motor unit rotatably supported by a bracket adapted to be clamped to the stern of a boat. Extending downwardly from the motor unit is a vertical drive shaft casing from the lower end of. which is suspended an underwater unit housing therein mechanism for driving a propeller. The underwater unit has a horizontal cross-section constituting a portion of a streamline or tear-drop shape, and completing such shape is a pump unit. The latter extends into the housing unit and has a piston reciprocable on a horizontal axis by the drive shaft within the housing unit, the pump unit being removable for purposes of repair merely by a horizontal movement, and replacement thereof in the housing unit places the piston of the pump unit in operative relation to the shaft.

The pump unit has an intake port opening at its rear edge, while its outlet port is located at the top within the housing unit and is provided with a pipe fitting extending upwardly through an aperturein the top of the housing unit to the rear of the drive shaft casing. A separate anticavitationplate is carried on the top of the housing unit and is provided with a collar at its forward end surrounding the lower end of the drive shaft casing, the pipe fitting extending through the plate.

The motor unit has an exhaust pipe extending downwardly and paralleling the drive shaft casing at the rear thereof, with the lower portion of the exhaust pipe bent rearwardly and terminating adjacent the rear edge of 'the anticavitation plate. Connecting the pump unit with the motor unit to supply cooling water thereto is a water pipe extending from the pump outlet fitting and entering the exhaust pipe at the bend adjacent the lower end thereof.

As shown in the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a motor unit, indicated generally in Fig. 1 as III. The motor unit is rotatably supported, for steering purposes, by a bearing II carried on a bracket l2 adapted to be clamped on the stern of a boat. Extending downwardly from the bearing II and the motor unit is adrive shaft l3 enclosed by a drive shaft casing I4 which in the present instance is a round tube. Suspended from the lower end of the casing I4 is an underwater unit, indicated generally at l5, housing a drive mechanism for a propeller l6 mounted on a horizontal axis.

The underwater unit has a partial streamline or tear-drop contour in horizontal cross-section and completing such contour is a pump unit, indicated generally at 11, so that the underwater and pump units together provide a complete external shape of streamline contour. In the preferred form, the front end of the underwater unit is rounded, and the drive shaft I3 extends therein substantially concentric with the rounded end and is journalled in a bushing 24 supported in the lower portion of the unit.

The propeller i8 is carried on a horizontal shaft 2| housed in the lower part of the underwater unit which is enlarged to provide a barrelshaped portion 22. The portion 22 provides space for a pair of bevel gears 23 and 24 (see Fig. 5) affording a driving connection between the drive shaft l3 and propeller shaft 2|. The bevel gears 23 are preferably so proportioned that the speed of propeller shaft 2| is less than the speed of the drive shaft l3. The gear 23 is splined on the lower end of the drive shaft I8 and is held in position by a-block 25 through which the propeller shaft 2| extends. The gear 24 is splined on the front end of the propeller shaft 2| and has a hub portion 26 journalled in a thrust bushing 21 carried in an annular flange 28 formed on the inside of the front end of the barrel-shaped portion 22.

The rear end of the propeller shaft 2| is journalled in a bushing 38 carried by a cap 3| closing the rear end of the barrel-shaped portion 22. Between the cap 3| and the block 25 is a spacing bushing 32. The cap 3| is removably secured in place, so that the propeller shaft 2i and related parts may be removed, and to this end is provided with lugs 33 secured to the barrel-shaped portion 22 by screws 34. In removing the parts, the propeller shaft 2| is pulled out, together with the spacing bushing 32 and block 25. Then, to remove the gears 23 and 24, the drive shaft I3 is removed from the gear 23, and the latter is tipped sidewardly to disengage it from the gear 26, the recess in the wall of the housing being out at an angle as shown at 35 (see Fig. 5) to permit the tipping movement of the gear 23.

The interior of the barrel-shaped portion 22 is separated from the rest of the unit by a transverse wall 35 so that the portion 22 may be filled with grease in which the gears run. To replenish the supply of grease, a greasing hole 31 and a vent 38 closed by screws are provided. Extending downwardly from the barrel-shaped portion 22 is a fin 40 to assist in steering and serving as a guard.

- movement relative to the housing unit I5. Moreover, it is so positioned that it may be actuated from the drive shaft 3, rather than the propeller shaft 2|, to take advantage of the higher speed of the former.

To these ends, the pump unit comprises a pump body 4| constituting the rear edge portion of the underwater unit and completing the streamline contour thereof; To secure the pump body 4| in place, it is provided with lugs 42 at its upper and lower ends. The upper lug 42 is secured directly to the housing unit l5 by a screw 43, while the lower lug 42 fits into a step out into the upper lug 33 of the cap-3| and is secured in place by the cap-securing screw 34.

The pump body 4| has a portion 44 extending into the underwater housing unit l5, which ishorizontally bored as at 45 to serve as the cylinder of the pump. Slidably mounted in the cylinder bore 45 is a piston comprising a head 46 having a reduced portion 41 telescoped into a sleeve 48. The sleeve 48 is rigidly secured to the head 45 by having its abutting end spun into an mea re undercut 43 in the head. The piston is urged toward the drive shaft l2 by'a coiled spring 55 extending into'the sleeve 45 and bearing at oneend against the reduced'portion' 41 of the head and seated at its other end in a counterbore 5| 5 in the pump body 4|. To actuate the piston, an eccentric 52 is carried on the drive shaft II in abutment with piston head 45.

The water passages for the pump are provided by bores in the pump body 4|. Thus, an inlet port 53 is provided preferably in the lower part, of the pump body and at the rear edge thereof. The inlet port 53 is preferably protected by a screen 54. Extending inwardly from the inlet port 53 is a horizontal bore 55 communicating with a vertical bore 55 entering the cylinder. An inlet valve member 51 is threaded in the vertical bore 5 and at its upper end is provided with a valve seat 58. Coacting with the valve seat 58 is a ball 88 retained in pin 5|.

The vertical bore 55 extends beyond the cylinder bore 45 and meets at its upper end a horizontal bore 82 closed by a plug 83. Opening within the housing unit |5'is an outlet port 55, in which an outlet valve fitting is threaded. The outlet valve fitting preferably comprises a body member 55 provided with a valve seat 58 and a coacting ball 61 retaining within the fitting by a cross pin 58. The top apertured as at 10 to permit the fitting 85 to extend therethrough.

Cooperating with the propeller i8 is an anticavitation plate 1|, and one of the prominent the bore 55 by a .20

of the housing unit i5 is features of the invention lies in the structural relation of the plate H to the underwater unit and the manner of securing the plate in place and securing the underwater unit to the drive shaft casing it. The underwater unit 65 is provided with a sleeve 12 extending the rounded front portion and telescoped into the drive shaft casing I4, the sleeve and easing having a snug fit. The anti-cavitation plate ii is carried on the flat top surface of the underwater unit and at its front end is provided with means to secure it in place. Preferably said means comprises a collar 13 encircling the lower end of the drive shaft casing l4 and provided with diametrically opposite bosses 14 threaded to receive screws 15 extending through the drive shaft casing i4 and the sleeve 12. The screws 15 thus not only hold the anti-cavitation plate 1| in place but also hold the casing l4 and the sleeve 12 together. a

The anti-cavitation plate covers the aperture 10 in the top of the underwater unit and is itself apertured at 15 for the outlet fitting 55. To hold the plate 1| properly centered, it is provided with an arcuate lug 11 on its lower face fitting into the aperture 10.

The motor unit I 8 is provided with an exhaust pipe 80 (see Fig. 1) extending downwardly from the motor unit in parallel relation to and at the rear of the drive shaft casing l4. The lower end of the exhaust pipe is bent rearwardly as at 8| and terminates at substantially the rear edge of the anti-cavitation plate.

The outlet fitting 65 of the pump unit I1 is connected to the motor unit "I, to supply cooling water thereto, by a water pipe 82 connected to the outlet fitting 85 E 1 a coupling as. To conceal the water pipe and us improve the appearance of the motor, the pipe 82 is bent to enter the upwardly within the exhaust pipe to the motor.

upwardly from a,14a,svs v The passage of the water pipe through the exhaust pipe tends to cool the exhaust gases and hence reduces the pressure thereof and the back pressure against the engine.

In operation, the rotation of the drive shaft l3 reciprocates the pump piston by means of the eccentric 52, the spring 50 .holding the piston in contact with the eccentric 52. Should the pump become clogged or any of its parts worn, it may be readily removed. Thus, to remove it, the outlet fitting 65 is unthreaded from the pump body 4|, and the screw 43 holding the upperend and the screw 34 holding the lower end are removed. The complete pump may then be removed as a unit simply by moving it rearwardly. On replacing the pump unit, the piston is moved into operative relation with the eccentric i2 merely by the movement of pump body into place in the housing unit.

From the above description, it will be apparent that I have provided an outboard motor havingv an underwater portion provided with a pump removable as a unit'by a simple lateral or horizontal movement. The pump is driven by the vertical drive shaft extending down from the motor and after being removed and returned, as-

sumes an operative relation thereto. The pump body extends into the housing unit and has an external portion completing the streamline contour of the underwater unit. The underwater unit is secured to the drive shaft casing in telescopic relation, and the anti-cavitation plate is carried on the top of the underwater unit and is secured in place by a collar encircling the drive shaft casing. The motor exhaust pipe parallels the drive shaft casing and the pipe carrying the water from the pump to the motor extends up through the anti-cavitation plate and enters the exhaust pipe.

I claim as my invention:

1. An outboard motor having a downwardly extending drive shaft casing of circular cross-section, an underwater unit of streamline contour comprising a rounded front end with a trailing rear portion, the rounded front end of said unit being alined with said casing and secured thereto, and an anti-cavitation plate carried on the top of the trailing rear portion of said unit and being secured to said casing at its connection with said unit.

2. An outboard motor having a downwardly extending drive shaft casing of circular cross-section, an underwater unit having a streamline cross-section comprising a rounded front portion concentric with said casing and a trailing rear portion, said unit having a sleeve telescoped into said casing, and an anti-cavitation plate carried on the top of said trailing rear portion and having a collar at its forward end surrounding said casing and said sleeve and rigidly attached thereto for securing the plate in place.

3. An outboard motor having a downwardly extending drive shaft casing of circular cross-section, an underwater unit of streamline cross-section with its forward portion in alinam'cnt with said casing and trailing rearwardly therefrom, said unit having a flat top with an aperture in the trailing rear portion, and an anti-cavitation plate carried on the top of said unit and having a .collar surrounding said casing, said plate being provided with a lug on its lower face entering the aperture in the top of said unit to hold the plate centered with said unit.

4. An outboard motor having a vertical drive shaft casing, an underwater housing unit of streamline contour comprising a front portion alined with said casing and a trailing rear portion, the top of said trailing portion having an aperture opening from the interior of said unit, a pump located within said unit and having an outlet fitting extending upwardly through said aperture, and an anticavitation plate carried on the top of said unit and having an aperture through which said fitting extends.

5. An outboard motor having a vertical drive shaft casing of circular cross-section, an underwater housing unit of streamline cross-section comprising a rounded front portion alined with said casing and a trailing rear portion, said rear portion having a flat top with an aperture opening from the interior of the unit and located immediately in the rear of said casing, a pump housed within the rear portion of the unit and having an outlet fitting extending upwardly through said aperture, and an anticavitation plate carried on the flat top of said unit and provided with a collar surrounding the lower end of said casing, said plate having an aperture to receive said fitting and having a ing entering the aperture in the top of said unit to hold the plate against turning.

6. An outboard motor comprising a motor unit, a drive shaft casing extending downwardly therefrom, an underwater unit on the lower end of said casing, a pump housed in said underwater unit, an exhaust pipe extending downwardly from said motor unit in parallel relation to said casing and having its lower end bent rearwardly, and a water pipe from said pump for supplying cooling water to the motor unit, said water pipe extending upwardly from said underwater unit and entering said exhaust pipe at the bend in the lower end thereof.

7 An outboard motor comprising a motor unit, a drive shaft casing extending downwardly therefrom, an underwater unit on the lower end of said casing, a pump housed in said underwater unit, an anti-cavitation plate located at the top of said underwater unit and extending rearwardly therefrom, an exhaust pipe extending downwardly from said motor unit and paralleling said casing, said exhaust pipe having its lower and bent rearwardly to overlie the rear edge of said plate, and a water pipe leading from said pump for supplying cooling water to said motor unit, said water pipe extending upwardly from said underwater unit through said plate and 

